Lethal expandible projectile

ABSTRACT

A high penetration, short range projectile comprised of a shot filled, deformable, flexible bag which is initially folded or rolled for insertion in a conventional cartridge case of a small firearm or the like, and adapted to be launched therefrom. Upon exit from the muzzle of the small arm, the bag radially expands under the influence of centrifugal force provided by the rifling grooves within the barrel to provide a spin stabilized trajectory characterized by a substantial energy decay in a relatively short, preselected down range distance.

United States Patent 119 Mawhinney June 11, 1974 LETHAL EXPANDIBLE PROJECTILE 3,085,510 4/1963 Campbell 102/42 c [75] Inventor: Robert C. Mawhinney, Danville, OTHER PUBLICATIONS Cahf- A.P.C. Set. No. 336,019 6/43 Garkovenko [73] Assignee: M B Associates, San Ramon, Calif.

Primary Examiner-Robert F. Stahl [22] Flled 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hamess, Dickey & Pierce [2]] Appl. No.: 351,525

' 7 Related US. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT l [62] Division ofSer. No. 173,079, Aug. 19. 1971, Pat. No. A Penetratlon, Short range proleclle compnsed 3,762,329 of a shot filled, deformable, flexible bag which is initially folded or rolled for insertion in a conventional 52 us. 01. 102/42 c, 102/41, 102/927 ,eartridge ease of a Small firearm er the like, and 51 Int. Cl. F42b 7/02, F42b 13/16 adapted to be lauhehed therefremp exit from the [58] Field of Search 102/42 0, 38, 91, 93, 1, muzzle 9f the Small arm, thebag radially expands 102 1 925; 29 122 under the influence of centrifugal force provided by 2 the rifling grooves within the barrel to provide a spin 5 R f r Cited stabilized trajectory characterized by a substantial en- UNITED STATES PATENTS ergy decay in a relatively short, preselected down range distance. V 75,0l9 3/1868 Howard 102/42 C 931,723 8/1909 9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures Bird 102/42 c PATENTEDJuu 1 1 m4 1 LETHAL EXPANDIBLE PROJECTILE This is a division, of US. Pat. application Ser. No.

l73,079, filed Aug. 19, 1971 now U.S.' Pat. No. 3,762,329.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the munitions art, and more particularly to a high penetration, short range projectile adapted to be f red by a small arm, such as a 0.38 caliber hand gun or the like.

The beneficial effect of the use of firearms in a military engagement, is substantially greater than a domestic law enforcement encounter, due to the difference in environment wherein the weapons are used. In military combat, when a member of the armed forces directs a shot at a target, i.e., an enemy soldier, there is a good chance that the primary target may be in close proximity to a number of secondary targets,such as additional enemy soldiers. Should the fired projectile miss theprimary target, the possibility exists that a secondary target may be hit. Even in the event of a complete miss, a certain degree of suppression to the enemy forces is attained, and generally speaking, except for the wasteful expenditures of ammunition, everyround directed against the enemy provides the firer with some beneficial effect. 4

The environment in which firearms-are used by domestic law enforcement officials on. the other hand is vastly different. This difference results from the fact that the target is typically surrounded, or in close proximity, to noncombatants (innocent bystanders) as opposed to enemy soldiers. This situation can be anticipated in all aspects of law enforcement, especially aircraft hyjacking, bank robberies and fleeing felons. The domestic law enforcement situation'implies that the officer must hit his target when he fires, or risk the catastrophic result of striking an innocent bystander. Unlike military combat there are no benefits to the officer if he was justified in firing, but misses his target. Even the so-called w'amingshot fired in the air has a potential range of over a mile and ultimately impacts with dangerously high energy. Thus, it is inopportune, and unfortunate that law enforcement officers must rely on essentially the same ammunition which was optimized for the military, such ammunition being characterized by high lethality over an exceptionally long range.

Ideally, optimum law enforcement ammunition should deliver a bullet which would magically stop immediately after it passes by, or through, the target, i.e., a bullet on a string. While this solution is not completely feasible in practice, it can be approached.

An unpowered projectile in horizontal flight has been found to be retarded by aerodynamic forces. Neglecting gravity, it can be shown that the velocity of an unpowered projectile, at any point down range, is determined by the following equation:

where V, velocity at some range x V initial velocity x distance from muzzle A slowing down length 2w/pAC w projectile weight p air density A projectile presented area C drag coefficient If the muzzle velocity (V is assumed to be constant. the only parameter which effects the down range velocity (V,) is a slowing down length (A). It will be seen that if the slowing down length is large, its velocity decay is very gradual. Conversely, if the slowing down length (A) is small, then the velocity degrades veryrapidly. Examination of the factors which determine the slowing down length (X) provides the conclusion that only projectile weight (w), projectile presented area (A), and drag coefficient (C can be manipulated to vary the slowing down length (A).

Generally speaking, the projectile presented area (A) is fixed and is nearly equal to the cross-sectional area of the bore of the launcher, leaving only the projectile weight (w) and drag coefficient (C of the projectile to be varied. The subject-projectile, however, allows the projectile area (A) to increase after exit from the bore of the launcher whichallows flexibility in all three parameters. The above described technique is utilized to drastically alter the ballistic properties'of the subject projectile in such a manner that the projectile may be made relatively safe for any selected range.

a With reference now to the subject invention, a novel type of ammunition is disclosed, which can be optimized for law enforcement work. The ammunition is adaptable to have conventional high lethality, and effectiveness, at the muzzle and throughout the typical encounter range, and rapidly become non-hazardous thereafter. The inventive concept involves the use of a deformable projectile in the form of a .shot filled bag which, when folded and packaged in a conventional cartridge case, requires no more volume than a standard round. However, upon launch, as the projectile is forced down the barrel, it engages the rifling grooves thereby acquiring the spin rate necessary for acquiring stability. Upon exit from the muzzle, the projectile is adapted to expand and assume a disc-like shape due to the reactional centrifugal force upon the shot particles within'the bag. The enlarged disc-shape provides an inv creased drag coefficient (C and an increased presented area (A) which afford substantial resistance to the aerodynamic forces and predictable energy decay.

It is therefore ageneral object of the subject invention to provide ammunition which is optimized for use in a law enforcement situation.

It is another object of the subject invention to provide ammunition useable in conjunction with conventional small arms, such as hand guns or the like.

- It is still another object of the present invention to provide a deformableprojectile which may be folded and packaged in a conventional cartridge case.

It is yet another object of the subject invention to provide a projectile having spin stabilized trajectory.

Itis a further objective of the present invention to provide a projectile which expands and assumes a disclike shape under the influence of centrifugal force.

- It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a projectile that is stable at the conventional muzzle velocities of a small arm.

It is yet a further object of the subject invention to provide a projectile having a substantial energy decay in a selected, relatively short, down range distance.-

It is still a further object of the subject invention to provide a projectile characterized by high penetration BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary high penetration, short range projectile of the subject matter, having an interior portion broken away to disclose the interior content; I

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembled cartridge, with a partial quarter section broken away, to disclose the interior content thereof, including the projectile illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is apartial elevation of a small arm, with one half of the barrel portion broken away, to illustrate the orientation of the cartridge illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is the same partial elevation as in FIG. 3, illustrating the separation of the projectile from the cartridge case immediately after firing;

FIG. 5 is another partial elevation illustrating the relative positions of the various components after exit from the barrel of the exemplary smallarm;

FIG. 6 is another partial elevation illustrating the fully expanded projectile in trajectory towards its target.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the projectile illustrated in plan in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the projectile illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7 illustrating the location of the shot prior to the folding step;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation of the projectile illustrated in FIG. 8, taken in the direction of the numeral 9, showing a first edge folded over the portion containing the shot;

FIG. 10 is the same end elevation as illustrated in FIG. 9 showing a second .edge folded over the first edge; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional elevation of the small arm and cartridge illustrated in FIG. 3 taken along the line lll1 thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 7 of the drawings, and in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the subject invention, a high penetration, short range projectile is indicated generally at.l0. The projectile 10 is comprised of a two-sided, relatively thin, disc-shaped bag 12 having a preselected number of grains of suitably sized shot particles 14 disposed therein. One side of the bag 12 is fabricated from a fabric, such as can'- vas, while the second side preferably includes a heat sealable fabric which provides an annular bond. Dimensionally for use with a 0.38 caliber cartridge case and by way of example, the bag 12 measures approximately one inch in diameter, but it will be appreciated that the diameter could be altered to accommodate other sized cartridge cases and also to affect the ballistic properties thereof. The size and weight of the shot particles 14 may also be varied, but again by way of example, No. 12 bird shot has been found to afford good results with a 0.38 caliber weapon. As previously indicated, the number of grains of shot 14 disposed within the bag 12 will depend to some extent on the desired ballistics of the projectile 10 and the design rangeability thereof in accordance with the slowing down length (A).

To accommodate insertion into a small arms cartridge case or the like, the flat configuration of the discshaped bag 12 must be initially altered. As best observed in FIG. 8, the shot particles 14 are initially displaced from random locations thereon and urged toward the center of the bag 12 by any-suitable means such as by squeezing the outer annular surfaces of the bag 12. The center positioning of the shot particles 14 form a generally cylindrically shaped diametrically extending, axially enlarged center portion indicated generally at 11, which is generally oval shaped in cross section as best observed in FIGS. 9 and 10. The initial folding step is illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein a first outer edge relative to the center portion 11 is folded thereover. The final step is illustrated in FIG. 10 wherein a diametrically opposite outer edge, relative to the first outer edge, is folded or rolled over the first edge to form an elongated generally cylindrical configuration shaped similar to that of a taco. In this ultimate configuration, the bag 12 is of suitable cross section to be inserted in the open end of a cartridge case.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a cylindrically shaped cartridge case is indicated generally at 16, and may be any conventional cartridge case adaptable for use with any type of small arm as for example a .38 caliber hand gun or the like. One end of the case 16 is open, as indicated at 18, with the opposite end being closed by an annularly shaped, radially extending end wall portion 20 which projects slightly outwardly from the cartridge case 16 for purposes of being received in and seated in the receiver portion of a small arm or the like as shall hereinafter be described. The end wall 20 further includes a primer portion 22 adapted to be struck by the firing pin of a small arm as is conventional in the art. The propellant for the projectile 10 is provided by a powder charge 24 disposed within the cartridge case 16 adjacent the end wall 20, retained therein by means of a relatively thin cylindrically shaped bulkhead or gas check 26. Interposed between the gas check 26 and a relatively thin, cone shaped, end cap 28 is the suitably deformed projectile 10. Preferably the end cap 28 and gas check 26 are formed from a relatively light weight plastic so as to contribute negligible weight to the assembled cartridge for purposes to be subsequently explained. Additionally, it will be noted that the projectile 10 in its nested position is easily packaged in the conventional cartridge case 16, with the assembled case 16 requiring no more volume than a standard round.

FIGS. 3 and 11 of the drawings illustrate an exemplary small arm 30 which includes a barrel portion 31 having a front iron sight at 34 and internal rifling grooves designated by 36. The left end of the barrel 30 is suitably counterbored as indicated at 32, to receive the radially enlarged end wall 20 of the cartridge case 16. The small arm 30 may be any hand. operated or shoulder supported weapon, and for purposes of illustration will be considered a 0.38 caliber hand gun having internal firing grooves 36. The cartridge 16 is indicated in the pre-firing position disposed in the receiver portion 32, the small arm 30 having a firing pin (not primer 22. Upon release of the firing pin by any suitable means, such as pull of a trigger, the firing pin will strike the primer 22 thereby detonating the propellant or powder charge 24. Since the cartridge case 16 is restrained by the engagement of the counterbore or receiver 32 and the enlarged end wall 32, the detonation force of the propellant launches the gas check 26, the projectile 10, and'the end cap 28 towards the muzzle end of the barrel 30. By means of the internal rifling grooves 36 within the barrel 30, it will be noted that rotation is imparted to the projectile as well as longitudinal thrust. v

FIG. 4 indicates the relation of the elements immediately after detonation of the propellant charge 24, wherein the gas check 26, projectile 10, and end cap 28 are disunited from the case 16 and FIG. 5 indicates the relation of the components upon exit from the barrel 30. The end cap 28 and gas check 26 have appreciably less mass than the projectile l0 and therefore due to aerodynamic forces, separatefrom the trajectory line of the projectile 10. Due to rotation of the projectile 10 provided by the rifling grooves 36, the centrifugal force imposed on the shot particles 14 to radially displace from thecenter portion 11 and cause the projectile'lO to radially expand, the projectile 10 now assuming a substantially disc shape of enlarged transverse cross section and dimensionally relatively thin with respect to the axis of trajectory.

FIG. 6 illustrates the projectile 10 in its fully radially expanded shape proceeding in its trajectory in a manner calculated to provide substantial energy decay in a relatively short preselected down range distance, and further providing substantial impact energy against a target between the muzzle of the small arm 30 and the preselected distance.

Itwill be noted that the projectile 10 is adapted to have predictable ballistic characteristics, such characteristics being predictable by the design of the presented cross-sectional area, the basic configuration of the projectile in flight, and the number of grains of shot disposed in the bag 12 which provides the mass to the projectile. Thus, the ballistic characteristics of the projectile 10 are such that the impact energy may beeffectively dissipated in any desired distance. It will further be appreciated that the subject invention provides a novel type of ammunition which can be optimized for use in the law enforcement environment. The projectile can have conventional high lethality and effectiveness proximate the muzzle and throughout the typical encounter range, and ultimately become rapidly nonhazardous thereafter. It will be further noted that the projectile 10 will be completely spin stabilized in flight due to the reaction of the imposed centrifugal force acting upon the shot 14, the centrifugal force and spin rate being initiated bythe rifling grooves 36.

While it will be appreciated that the embodiments illustrated herein are calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the subject invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of making an expandible short range projectile adapted to be launched from a small firearm comprising the steps of:

forming a disc shaped bag;

locating a preselected number of shot particles in said bag; and

rolling the bag from one outer peripheral edge into a generally cylindrical shape to accommodate insertion into a cartridge case of a small arm.

2. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said locating step includes urging said shot particles inwardly in said disc shaped bag proximate a common diameter thereof.

3. The method of making an expandible short range V projectile adapted to be launched from a small firearm comprising the steps of:

forming a disc shaped bag;

locating a preselected number of shot particles in said bag including urging said shot particles inwardlyin said disc shaped bag proximate a common diameter thereof; and

folding the bag to a generally cylindrical shape for insertion in a cartridge case of the small arm, said folding step including folding the first edge of said bag over said common diameter, and subsequently folding a second opposite edge over said first edge.

4. The method of making an expandible short range projectile adapted to be launched from a small firearm 6. The method, as recited in claim 3, wherein said forming step includes cutting a first disc shaped side from a canvas material, and cutting a second identical disc shaped side from a heat sensitive material.

7. The method, as recited in claim 6, wherein said forming step includes bonding said second side to said first side.

8. The method, as recited in claim 4, wherein said 10- cating step includes urging said shot particles inwardly in said disc shaped bag proximate a common diameter thereof.

9. The method, as recited in claim 8, wherein said folding step includes folding a first edge of said bag over said common diameter, and subsequently foldinga second opposite edge over said first edge.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION June 1 1, 1974 Patent No. 502 Dated Inventor (5) Robert C. Mawhinney It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line fhfiflrnatter" should be --inven1:ion--.

Column 4, line 66, "firing" should be --rif1ing--.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of June 1975.

(SEAL) Attest C MARSHALL DANN RUTH C MASON Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks Attesting Officer FORM (10-59) uscoMM-Dc scan-Pee 9 U.5, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE '99 0-355-13.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION June 11, 1974 Patent: No. 502 Dated Inventor(s) Robert C. Mawhinney It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line lqflmatter" should be -invention---.

Column 4, line 66, "firing" should be --rif1ing--.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of June 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks -'ORM Po-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 R 11.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: "69 O-JGG-JM 

1. The method of making an expandible short range projectile adapted to be launched from a small firearm comprising the steps of: forming a disc shaped bag; locating a preselected number of shot particles in said bag; and rolling the bag from one outer peripheral edge into a generally cylindrical shape to accommodate insertion into a cartridge case of a small arm.
 2. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said locating step includes urging said shot particles inwardly in said disc shaped bag proximate a common diameter thereof.
 3. The method of making an expandible short range projectile adapted to be launched from a small firearm comprising the steps of: forming a disc shaped bag; locating a preselected number of shot particles in said bag including urging said shot particles inwardly in said disc shaped bag proximate a common diameter thereof; and folding the bag to a generally cylindrical shape for insertion in a cartridge case of the small arm, said folding step including folding the first edge of said bag over said common diameter, and subsequently folding a second opposite edge over said first edge.
 4. The method of making an expandible short range projectile adapted to be launched from a small firearm comprising the steps of: forming a disc shaped bag, said forming step including cutting a first disc shaped side from a canvas material, and cutting a second identical disc shaped side from a heat sensitive material; locating a preselected number of shot particles in said bag; and folding the bag to a generally cylindrical shape for insertion in a cartridge case of the small arm.
 5. The method, as recited in claim 4, wherein said forming step includes bonding said second side to said first side.
 6. The method, as recited in claim 3, wherein said forming step includes cutting a first disc shaped side from a canvas material, and cutting a second identical disc shaped side from a heat sensitive material.
 7. The method, as recited in claim 6, wherein said forming step includes bonding said second side to said first side.
 8. The method, as recited in claim 4, wherein said locating step includes urging said shot particles inwardly in said disc shaped bag proximate a common diameter thereof.
 9. The method, as recited in claim 8, wherein said folding step includes folding a first edge of said bag over said common diameter, and subsequently folding a second opposite edge over said first edge. 